Hello All, I had done some research and had seen there is a somewhat free exchange server for small businesses. After doing some more research I had seen that a company over 40 or so is considered a midsize company and isnot eligible to get the small business package. So my question is if I want to implement an exchange sever I would need windows server 2003 correct(is there a license per seat aswell)? Then I would need to get the exchange install cd and for that one it requires per seat licensing as well. I was trying to come up with an estimated price and to get an actual feel on how hard it is to implement this type of server on the network. So if anyone could give me some ideas or guide me in a direction it would be greatly appriciated.

SBS2003 supports75 users. Don't know where you got the 40 user limit? Small Business Server is a Windows 2003 server optimized to run it own version of exchange 2003. If cost is a factor then this is your best bet. Setting up your own AD and adding a enterprise edition of exchange 2007 is alot of work....and a lot more expensive. Check out this link. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/sbs/evaluation/faq/default.mspx

Thanks for that info, I looked at the link and it had a pricing section and the funny thing is there is nothing to be said about new customers. It just touches base on the following... Pricing and Licensing Questions Q. How will existing customers obtain Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2? A. Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 will be available through the following channels: Customer Type Software Assurance? Need to purchase new server license? How to Obtain SBS 2003 R2 Existing SBS customer Yes - SA contract must be current when SBS 2003 R2 RTMs No Through normal channels for a nominal shipping and handling fee. Existing SBS customer No Yes Version Upgrade SKU via retail to upgrade from previous version (4.0, 4.5, 2000, 2003) to SBS 2003 R2. NEW SBS customer who purchases SBS 2003 with SP1 beginning March 1, 2006 No No - Technology Upgrade Program offer Technology Upgrade Program: Purchase SBS 2003 with SP1 preinstalled from OEM or System Builder partner beginning March 1, 2006. Eligible customers receive free SBS 2003 R2 Upgrade Media Kit (shipping and handling fees apply); see complete eligibility details. Q. I have Software Assurance on SBS today. Does that entitle me to SBS 2003 R2? A. If your Software Assurance contract is current at the time that SBS 2003 R2 is published on the volume licensing price list, then you will be entitled to receive SBS 2003 R2 through your normal fulfillment channel for a nominal shipping and handling fee. Q. Do I need to purchase new CALs or upgrade CALs for licenses I already own? A. No. Your existing SBS 2003 CALs are automatically converted to SBS 2003 R2 CALs. You do not need to pay any costs for your existing CALs. But if you add users or devices, you will need to purchase new CALs for them. Q. What are the expanded CAL rights in SBS 2003 R2? Ok so its for 75 users and up, but there is no need for a windows server 2003 or any other prerequisites before installing SBS? Because I did not find anything calling for it, just that you had to have a computer with 1 ghz cpu and 1 gig of ram or some cheap comp. I was looking for a contact center but all I could find was tech support which you had to pay for each time you called.

SBS2003 is an all in one solution. It is a stripped down optimized version of windows 2003 server R2... which includes and optimized standard version of exchange 2003 sp2 ...and a version of windows update services. This is called the standard version of SBS 2003. The Premium version includes sharepoint and SQL server. This all runs on one server. So don't go cheap when buying your server. Especially if you are going to try and run all 75 users on one server. Microsoft has designed SBS2003 and all its services to run together in complete harmony For example. Microsoft doesn't recommend you un DNS on the same server your running exchange 2003....but it is okay to do it with SBS2003 because it is designed to be an all in one offering. Here is a link to pricing. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/sbs/howtobuy/pricing.mspx